Starhotels Echo. of Milan: the green stay in the city

Who said that to be green you have to stay in the countryside or in the mountains, in short, far from the city? In Milan there is a special address, also because it has been open since 2011, therefore rather visionary, which welcomes environmentally conscious travellers: is the Starhotels Echo. Ecological Contemporary Hotelof the Florentine group.

Born from a recovery of a pre-existing structure, over the years it has won prizes and awards for its green and responsible soul despite being in a very central position in Milan, 100 meters from the Central Station and also close to the Porta Nuova district and the historic centre.

The greenest lobby there is

Starhotels Echo. is an oasis of relaxation, where we regenerate ourselves, in a responsible way. To understand what it is, just set foot in the lobbies. It immediately hits the natural light which floods the common areas on the ground floor. The entrance is an open-plan area, delimited by an uninterrupted sequence of fully opening glass doors which, in summer, create a continuum between the lobby, the lounge area, the bar and the veranda overlooking the internal garden.

And that’s right the garden is one of the most beautiful places in the hotelso special also due to the exceptional view of a small chapel with portico in Bramante style, dating back to the late fifteenth century. The garden is already visible from the lobby and transports guests to a dimension of absolute tranquillity. At the Echo. it feels outdoors even when you are inside.

This sensation is amplified by the design and planning of the hotel. The walls of the lobby and restaurant, for example, are covered with backlit, recycled and 100% biodegradable PVC panels, with evocative images of a luxuriant garden in the lobby and a rich vegetable garden in the restaurant.

Rooms

Warm and natural colors have been chosen throughout the structure, where green and different shades of brown dominate. There are 143 rooms, of which 7 are Junior Suites and 6 Suites and the rest are in the Superior category: the rooms, like all the spaces in the hotel, are relaxing and welcoming environments thanks to the choice of materials, furnishings, fabrics and colours.

In all rooms are available Starbed beds in soft feather with ecological mattress and the exclusive Pillow menu service, to choose the most suitable pillow because we know that when you travel one of the things you need the most to sleep well is your pillow. All rooms have been designed with respect to the model Green Roomwith certified carpet, wallpaper and upholstery, beds made with recycled materials and “FSC” wood, natural fiber linen, minibar with the possibility of choosing organic products, low-consumption lighting partly powered by a photovoltaic system, hot water produced by the heat recovery of the refrigeration units, water recovery for the use of toilet cisterns, high thermal break windows and facades with a thermal insulating system.

Upon check-in, guests receive a key-ring that illustrates the characteristics of the Green Room, while by connecting to www.myclimate.org they can calculate the carbon footprint produced during their stay and strategies to reduce it.

The gastronomic offer

At the restaurant Green Food & Mood vegetable gardensurrounded by large windows and backlit walls that reproduce a vegetable garden planted with fruit, flowers and vegetables, the conscious philosophy of Starhotels Echo., respectful of the environment as well as the well-being of the guestmeets the best raw materials thanks to the selection of ingredients and excellent artisan producers who they favor short supply chains and Slow Food presidia to follow the course of the seasons.

The chef intertwines the inspiration of his gastronomic memory, strongly rooted in the territory and in the traditions, with suggestions taken from street food and international cuisines: the compass is always firmly focused on lightness and well-being, as demonstrated by the many vegetarian and vegan optionsand the attention dedicated to organic and gluten-free products.

Also in the bar, as in the restaurant of the same name, the most famous international cocktails are served together with others with controlled designation of origin which showcase the historical products of Italian liqueur, such as cedar water, cinchona and rhubarb. A good selection of wines by the glass allows you to taste the best of Italian organic, biodynamic and integrated agriculture wine production.

Small gestures for big results

Every gesture, even the smallest, can have a big impact. Thus, put together, all the green choices made by Starhotels in this hotel lead to extraordinary results. For instance? A saving of 25% of natural gas and 15% of electricityin addition to the reduction of 130 tons of CO2 on an annual basis, and 20% of water.

There ecological conscience of the hotel it is also found in interior design solutions. Recycled are many materials used such as the material of the placemats and other furnishing accessories of the restaurant, as well as the floor of the lobby. The carpeting in the common areas and corridors is certified “Eco Solution Q”, while the wallpaper in the rooms is certified “Nordic Ecolabel”, the upholstery is “Greenguard” and “EU Ecolabel”, the floors in the rooms and bathrooms carry the “Live Green” seal. In short, every gesture is designed and measured to have the least possible impact on the planet and for sensitize guests to an equally aware attitude.